PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has demanded changing the name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ‘Pakhtunkhwa’ through the constitutional amendment the federal government plans to introduce in the parliament.

The party also rejected the proposal of trying political activists in military courts.

The demand was made during the party’s central advisory meeting held at the Bacha Khan Centre here the other day.

ANP central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan chaired the meeting.

Later, a statement issued to the media said ANP would oppose any constitutional amendment that infringed on personal liberties and extended the tenure of constitutional offices.

The party also rejected the proposal about trial of political workers in military courts. It, however, lauded the move to establish a federal constitutional court.

“Any amendment against fundamental rights and democratic principles is not acceptable to the party. We will also oppose any amendment that tried to reverse the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment, that ensured provincial autonomy,” the statement quoted the participants as saying.

The participants observed that the ongoing ‘power struggle’ between institutions was not a good omen for the country.

“ANP’s stand from day one is that the axis of power is only the parliament. We will continue to struggle for the supremacy of the parliament and the rule of the Constitution,” the meeting noted.

Central leaders, including Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilor, Ameer Haider Hoti, provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, central general secretary Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Khadim Hussain, office-bearers from other provinces and central secretary information Eng Ehsanullah Khan participated in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024